Shoe-stretcher.



W. L. SMITH. SHOE STRETOHER.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 13, 1911.

1,024,869. Patented Apr.'30, 1912.

WITNESTSELS: I v n INVENTOR: 9 ATTORNEY. I

the invention having reference more UNITED. STATES PATENT oFFica WILLIAM L'SMITH, 01F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SHOE-STBETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 13, 1911.

Patented Apr. 30, 191 Serial No. 627,009.

shoes or similar foot-wear may be had, forstretching-shoes or similar articles so as to v be comfortable to the wearer in case the shoe or the like does not exactly fit the foot,

particularly to a shoe stretcher that is adapted to be used by individuals who may desire to stretch their own shoes at their pleasure.

The object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive shoe stretcher that will be adapted to be operated by any one, however inexperienced, and be convenient, durable and economical in use. I

With the above mentioned and minor objects in view the invention comprises an appliance adapted to be inserted into a shoe or the like and be held by one hand and operated by the other hand of the user, for

stretching the forward portion ,of a shoe or the like; and the invention consists further in the novel parts and combinations. and'ar rangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved shoe stretcher as preferably constructed; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view thereof through the expanding apparatus; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view through the pivotal or hinging connections of the two main members of the appliance; Fig. 4, a fragmentary sectional view of the parts of the appliance in detail; Fig. 5, an inverted perspective view of one of the adjustable parts of the appliance Fig. 6, a perspective view of one of the main members; Fig. 7, a perspective view of the winding or expanding spool which operatively connects the main members together for moving them relativelyv each to the other; and Fig. 8,. a, side view of a shoe partially broken away and showing the shoe stretcher in operative position therein.

Similar reference characters in theklifferent figures of the drawings indicate like parts orfeatures of construction heroin referred to and described. v

A practical embodiment of. the invention comprises two counterpart main members" adapted to fit against the inner side of a shoe upper portion, the members having hinging portions at one end thereof and preferably are composed of sheet metal bent to required contours, so ,as to be relativelv light in weight and strong. The hinging portions comprise opposing backs 1 and 1, two flanges 2 and 2 extending parallel one with the other from the back 1, and two flanges 3 and 3 extending parallel onewith the other from the back 1'. The flanges have pivot holes 4 and 4" therein respcctively to receive a pivot or hinge pin.- The hinging portions constitute shanks for main portions 5 and 5' of the members which extend from the backs 1 and 1' and the flanges thereon and are substantially concavo-convex in cross-section, there being end portions 6 and 6' that are'approximately spoon shaped extending from the main or body portions 5 and 5', the end portions being adapted to directly accomplish'the stretching operation and are provided with series of apertures"? and 7 respectively for holding a rounded boss 8 provided with projections 8 and 8" adapted to be inserted in any two adjacent apertures,';for retaining the boss in position temporarily while the appliance is being inserted in the shoe. The boss may be shifted to either one of the end portions 6 or 6 as occasion' may 'require for stretching a particular portion ofthe shoe upper. The end port-ions are preferably madesubstantially spoon shaped so as to be .s'trong and yet not be heavy. The flanges 2 and 3 have oblique angle guide ways 9 and 9 therein respectively. The flanges of the two members are placed together and a suitable handle 10 which is provided is seated upon the uppermost one of the flanges and has a pivot or hinge pin 11 thereon qxtending through the flanges, the end; ofthe pivot being upset to form a flange 12 against the undermost one of the flanges of the two members whereby to secure the members together hingedly. The pivot has a spike 18 projecting from its end and it has a sharp point 14 adapted t'o be pressed into the sole of a shoe for holding the appliance in the desired position.

The main members are provided with two axial screw threaded rods 15 and 15 respectively, one being right-hand and the other left-hand pitch, the rods having necks 1o 16 and 16 inserted in suitable apertures in the main portions 5 and 5 respectivel and heads 17 and 17 on the necks to secure them in place, the necks however being slightly loose in the main members. A spool 18 is 15 provided in opposite end portions thereof with oppositely pitched screw threads 19 and 19 receiving the screws or rods, the end portions of the spool having flanges 20 and 20 thereon, the middleportion of the spool 20 having a guide collar 21 thereon in which is an opening or notch 22 through which the middle portion 28' of a cord 23 extends so that the cord may be wound on either end portion of the spool. The cord extends 25 through the guide ways 9 and, 9' and has loops 24 and 24' constituting hand-holds on opposite ends thereof. I

It should be understood that obvious changes may be made in the details ofconstruction, it being clear that the main memhers may be operated and controlled by the use of one screw connected to one of the members with the spool engaging the screw and rotatably connected with the other one of the main members. V

In practical use one end of the .cord is drawn out so as to rotate the spool in the proper direction to bring the free end portions of the main members sufliciently closetogether topermit the appliance to be inserted into the shoe to be treated. The ap-. pliance is placed upon the sole of the shoe in the desired position and the operator with one hand takes hold of the, handle 10 andpressesthe point 14:.of the spike into the sole and thenspulls on the opposite end'ot the cord to expand or ,force the free end portions of the appliance apart so as to stretch the shoe. The operation having been performed the other end of the cord is again drawn outso as to collapse and'release the implement from the shoe, after which it may be readily withdrawn therefrom.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is--" 1. A shoe stretcher including two counterpart members hingedly connected together at one end thereof, an expandingspool operatively connected with the two members, and a cord connected with the expanding-spool.

2. A shoe stretcher including two counterpart members comprising each a shank and an approximately spoon-shaped main portion, a pivot-pinconnectingthe shanks of the two members together and having abandle on one end and a spike on the opposite end thereot,.. and an expanding-spool arranged between and operatively connected with the two members.

3. A shoe stretcher including two counterpart members hingedly connected together at one end thereof, the opposite end portions of the members being approximately spoon-shaped and having each a plurality of apertures therein, a boss having projections thereon removably inserted in two of the apertures, an expanding-spool arranged between and operatively connected with the two members, and a cord connected with the expandingspool.

4. A shoe stretcher including two counterpart members hingedly connected together at one end thereof and having each a guideway therein, an expanding-spool operatively connected with the two members, and a cord connected to the expanding: spool and extending movably through the guideways.

5. A shoe stretcher including two counterpart members hingedly connected together and provided each with an axial rod, one of the rods being screw-threaded, and

.an expanding-spool rotative on the rods between the members, the expanding-spool having screw-threads therein engaging the screw-threads on the rod.

6. A shoe stretcher including two counterpart members hingedly connected together at one endthereof, two screws connected to the two members respectively, one screw beingright-handed and the other left handed pitch, a winding-spool having righthand and left-hand pitch screw-threads therein engaging gihe two screws respectively, and a cord connected to the spool.

7. A shoe stretcher including two counterpart members having each a guideway therein and provided with a screw, a pivot pin connecting the twp, members together and providedwith a projecting spike on the end thereof, a spool having screw-threads therein connected with the screws, and a cord connected with the spool and extend- 1 ing through the guideways.

8. A shoe stretcher comprising two counterpart members having each a plurality of pairs of apertures therein, a pivot connecting the two members together and having a handle on one end and a sharp spike on the opposite end thereof, a' boss having projec tions thereon removably inserted in a pair of the apertures, two oppositely pitched screws connected to the two members respectively, a spool rotatable on the screws and having oppositely pitched screw-threads therein engaging the two screws respectively, and a cord wound about .the spool and connected thereto.

v. '9. A shoe stretcher compnsmg two 'coun- 0 se s w a terpart members having each a guideway wound about the spool and extending therein, a pivot connecting the two memthrough the opening in the collar and also here together and having a sharp spike on through the guideways, the cord having two one end thereof, two oppositely pitched hand-holes on opposite ends thereof.

sfscrews connected to the two members re- In testimony whereof, I afiix my signa- 15 spectively, a spool rotatable on the screws ture inpresence of two witnesses.

and having oppositely pitched screw-threads 1 WILLIAM L. SMITH. "therein engagm the two screws respec- Witnesses: ftively, the spool aving aguide collar there- E. T. SILYIUS,

1o on which is an opening, anda cord 3 A. HAVELIOK. 

